Electron Ejection from Metals due to 1- to 10-keV Noble Gas Ion Bombardment. I. Polycrystalline Materials

A method is described which complements present techniques and enables measurements to be made of the secondary electron emission coefficient, γ, for ions on materials for which γ is difficult or impossible to measure by the "flashing" or heating technique. The method allows operation in a high-vacuum (10^-8 Torr) system as opposed to an ultra-high vacuum (10^-9 Torr) system. Results for the secondary electron emission coefficient, γ, are presented for Ar⁺ on Zr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Ta, and Al, and for Ne⁺, Kr⁺, and Xe⁺ on Cu and Mo in the energy range 0.5 to 10.0 keV. Comparisons with present theories and with other experimental results are made.